FNM leader Dr Hubert Minnis.
By NICO SCAVELLA
Tribune Staff Reporter
nscavella@tribunemedia.net
FREE National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis on Friday brushed off claims by former FNM Cabinet minister Phenton Neymour of an attempt to purge the party of those individuals who served under the previous Ingraham administration.
Dr Minnis, in an interview with The Tribune, said he will not be "sidetracked", and is more interested in "purging the Bahamas of (Prime Minister Perry Christie) and his PLP government".
Dr Minnis was responding to claims made by Mr Neymour on Thursday following the FNM's selection of Navarro Bowe as the party's candidate for Exuma, despite him reportedly receiving significantly fewer votes than Mr Neymour during a vote of the executive council in Exuma.
On Thursday, Mr Neymour, who served as Minister of State for the Environment and South Beach MP in the last Ingraham administration, said he was not surprised that Mr Bowe has been chosen to be the party's candidate for the Exuma constituency. He added that he figured the "writing was on the wall" given the small number of "Ingrahamites" who have been nominated candidates and/or executive committee members under Dr Minnis' leadership.
To validate his claims, Mr Neymour said that out of the current 32-member executive committee of the FNM, which selects the candidates, just five served under Mr Ingraham.
Additionally, only a few politicians who served in an Ingraham administration have been nominated by the FNM for the next election, such as former Education Minister Desmond Bannister and former Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Housing Brensil Rolle.
When asked to respond to the claims yesterday, Dr Minnis said: "At this particular time I am focusing on purging the Bahamas of Christie and his PLP, purging the Bahamas of victimisation, and bringing transparency, honesty and integrity back into this country. That's what I'm focused on. I'm not going to be sidetracked by anything."
"I see the finish line, and I'm running for the tape," he added.
According to party insiders, Dr Minnis received a signed petition by over 300 FNM voters last year stating that they wanted Mr Neymour to be their representative. The Tribune understands that three candidates, Mr Neymour, Mr Bowe and Joshua Sears were presented to the Exuma constituency association for the vote, with the understanding that whoever the association chose, Dr Minnis would ratify as the Exuma candidate.
Sources claimed that Mr Neymour received 67 per cent of the vote.
Comments
Publius 7 years, 10 months ago
Neymour is a loser but what he said about Minnis in this regard is absolutely true.
SP 7 years, 10 months ago
Minnis Right To Purge The Party Of Spineless MP's From The Ingraham Administration
Phenton and his all self serving cohorts deserve to stay out with Ingraham where they put themselves!
Bahamians have had enough of these useless windbags that do not stand for whats best for the electorate.
Jerome Fitzgerald said it best "I didn't want to lose my job", as his constituents were dying of cancer!
DEDDIE 7 years, 10 months ago
Minnis has every right to be distrustful of the Ingrahamites. It was just last month when they rebel and successfully strip him of the title leader of the opposition. Phenton Neymour didn't utter a word. He could have shown his loyalty by condemning the move. Silence shows consent.
sheeprunner12 7 years, 10 months ago
The Ingraham era is over ............. and Ingraham's partner's (Christie) era is over as well
proudloudandfnm 7 years, 10 months ago
This is the dumbest FNM ever, it has to be rebuilt from the ground up after it loses 2017. Every council member and delegate.
This party is nothing but chaos....
TigerB 7 years, 10 months ago
Well he managed to keep two of them, both season members. The problem is if he were to win the government everyone will be new, even him as PM, it would have made sense to keep some season persons on board, The PLP is loaded with seasoned loyal MPs, many have 5 years experience now.
Maynergy 5 years, 8 months ago
Born after July 10th 1973 YOU now have the constitutional right to own a piece of the islands of the Bahamas as a heritage. The islands are part of our TRADITION and should be preserved for generations not yet born. The earliest inhabitants of the islands of the Bahamas were freed African slaves and freed people from throughout the Americas and Caribbean islands who sailed the seas looking for relief from the pirates and colonial barons who bartered in black people suffering and religious bigotry. You have a right to protect this land from Great Inagua to the Berry islands. Every hill and all valleys confirms your ownership of this territory as an indigenous islander known as Bahamians.
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